Bangsamoro leaders commemorate the 49th anniversary of the gruesome Malisbong Massacre, Masjid Hadji Hamsa Tacbil in Malisbong Village, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat Province on Sept. 24, 2023. (Comenei Ali/BIO)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Nearly half a century after the harrowing Malisbong Massacre, the Bangsamoro Government came together to commemorated the loss of more than 1,000 lives at Masjid Hadji Hamsa Tacbil in Malisbong Village, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat Province on Sept. 24.
This tragic event unfolded during the peak of Martial Law under the then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when Philippine Army members perpetrated the massacre of Malisbong residents, including women and children, leaving behind a painful scar in the hearts of the Bangsamoro people.
“We must recognize the progress we have made since those dark days of September 24, 1974. Our government has worked tirelessly to heal wounds, bridge divides, and find paths to peace,” said Minister of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) Hussein Muñoz.
“The Malisbong massacre, although a painful memory, was the cause of change that pushed us closer to the realization of a more just and peaceful society,” he added.
In memory of this tragedy, Muñoz, along with other Bangsamoro leaders, paid tribute to the victims, their grieving families, and survivors.
“Their pain and suffering serve as a solemn reminder of the consequences of conflict and the imperative to seek justice and reconciliation,” he stressed.
Muñoz urged everyone not only to mourn the past but to also commit themselves to the pursuit of justice, accountability, and reconciliation, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who suffered and died in Palimbang do not go in vain.
Robert Apadan, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Subatra Program Manager, highlighted their role in policy advocacy, particularly in advocating for the passage of the transitional justice bill.
“The leadership of CBCS, led by Guiamel Alim, stands united in commemorating the 49th year since the Malisbong massacre,” he stated.
“The significance of this commemoration is not to dwell on our bitter past, but to be here today to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of our fellow comrades that have brought us to where we are now,” he added.
The event concluded with an update on the P10 million rehabilitation of the Tacbil mosque’s structural design, set to be finished by December, with funding sourced from the Special Development Fund (SDF). (Majid Nur/BIO)
